When a bushfire tore through the southern edge of Tenterfield in September 2019, The Buckley's had been on their way to town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The sibling trio from Byron Bay were booked to play at the Peter Allen Festival, but their show was cancelled in the wake of the fire.
"We've been trying to get back ever since, and bring our live music," Sarah Buckley said this week.
READ MORE:
This weekend they get that opportunity as part of the Lift The Country Spirits concert at Tenterfield Showground, which was organised by the town'a show society with government funding in response to the horror bushfire season 18 months ago as well as the drought.
The band had been looking forward to playing their first Bluesfest this weekend, as well as their first Tenterfield gig, but it was announced on Wednesday that the iconic Byron Bay festival had been cancelled.
Sarah, Lachlan and Molly, the children of former Radiators drummer Mick Buckley, grew up in Byron Bay, and in 2011 Mick drove the kids to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
At the time Sarah was 11, Lachlan 10 and Molly 9. They made an instant impact, finishing top-10 in a 600-strong busking contest, which they didn't even realise was a competition.
"We thought we were busking for petrol money home or something," Molly joked in an interview with the Newcastle Herald this month.
Fast forward to this year's Golden Guitar Awards at Tamworth, and The Buckleys scored their first nomination in the Best New Talent category on the heels of their debut single.
That single, Daydream, and the three that have followed - I'm Comin' For Ya (Love), Money and Breathe - have all climed to the top five in the Australian Country charts.
"It's been really incredible to see the response," Sarah said.
"We really wanted, with this album, to take risks, and we've been so lucky to have so many people around the world connect with the songs and have some amazing reviews."
Rolling Stone called it a masterclass of songwriting with crossover appeal between the country and indie-rock genres.
For this young band on the rise they are seeing light at the end of the tunnel having got through the shutdown period last year, which stopped live music.
The Tenterfield concert follows an easing of some restrictions, and it will be a chance for the crowd to dance again, Molly and Sarah both said.
"Everyone's going to dance, dancing's compulsory," Sarah laughed.
"Our set is up (tempo), and almost rock 'n roll, so it's going to be really great that people can dance now," Molly added.
- Tickets for the "Lift The Country Spirits" concert on Saturday are available at: www.trybooking.com. Tickets are $20 online or $30 at the gate. Gates open 4pm.